Safety device for bathtubs



April 4, 1950 A. E. JERO 2,502,957

SAFETY DEVICE FOR BATH TUBS Filed June 9, 1947 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE FOR BATHTUBS Allen E. Jero, Boise, Idaho Application June 9, 1947, Serial No. 753,498

1 Claim.

This invention relates to safety devices for H bath tubs.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the character described which can be gripped by a person using a bath tub, so as to remove all possibility of the persons slipping and falling, it being well known that one of the greatest causes of serious accidents in the home is the dangerously slippery inner surface of the tub, which, as well recognized, is one of the greatest single factors tending to cause serious injury in home accidents.

It is a further important object of the invention not only toprovide a device which can be effectively gripped for the purpose of preventing L slipping, but which is further designed so as to permit its being gripped in any position assumed by the user, while entering, using, or leaving the tub. It may be noted in this connection that it is entering or leaving the tub that most accidents occur, or in fact, at any time when the user is required to stand. The device which is the subject of the invention has been particularly and novelly designed, in this regard, for effective gripping at these times. i

It is a further important object of the invention to provide a device of the type stated which is readily capable of mounting upon a bath tub, is of simple construction, relatively inexpensive of manufacture, and which can yet be formed so as to provide an attractive addition to the fixtures in a bath room.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a bath tub, showing, in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates generally an upstanding support, at one side of the device, that bridges the bath tub B transversely, while 6 generally designates an identically formed support that also bridges the tub transversely, in spaced parallel relation to the support 5.

Referring now more particularly to these supports, the support 5 embodies a pair of upright standards I, that are preferably formed so that when fastened at their lower ends to the opposed longitudinal ledges L of the tub, they will extend straight upwardly and perpendicularly therefrom for a considerable distance, at opposite sides of the tub B. The support 6 embodies the use of identically formed upstanding standards 8 at opposite sides of the tub.

Preferably formed integrally with the standards of the support 5, and connecting the upper ends of said standards, is an arcuately formed intermediate portion 9 which bridges the bath tub transversely, the opposed upstanding standards 1 and connecting arcuate bridging portion 9 comprising basically the support 5. As may be readily observed by referring to the drawing, the support 5 can, accordingly, be formed from a single length of tubing, bent to provide a support formed as illustrated and described.

Connecting the upstanding standards 8 of the support 6 is a transverse bridging portion ID, that is parallel to the transverse bridging portion 9.

The supports 5 and 6 are connected at spaced intervals throughout their length with crossmembers II, which are also preferably formed from like lengths of tubing, and which are respectively connected at their ends by any permanent means, as by a weld or the like, to the spaced supports 5 and 6, as shown at l2. These crossmembers, as particularly shown in Figure 1, not only connect the standards I and 8 at either side of the tub at spaced intervals throughout the length of the standards, but connect also the bridging portions 9 and H] at intervals throughout the length of said portions.

When mounted upon a tub, it is contemplated that the device be of such height as will permit one or more cross-members II to be capable of being gripped immediately by the person using the tub, at any position which may be assumed by said person whether the person is standing upright in the tub, is sitting therein, or is entering or leaving the tub.

As one method of mounting my device upon the tub, I have shown the respective standards 1 and 8, a being provided, adjacent their lower ends, with circular flanges I3 these being in the nature of annular rings which are permanently secured to the standards for the purpose of providing base supports therefor. The lower ends of the standards are shown as being threaded, as at M, and these are projected through suitable openings in the opposed ledges L of the tub.

and on the threaded ends are threaded nuts 15, which are threaded against the under side of each ledge L. These nuts, in cooperation with the flanges l3 positioned on the outer surfaces of the ledges, are adapted to securely connect the lower ends of the standards to the ledges, whereby to retain the device fixedly in mounted position upon the bath tub.

It may be noted, in this connection, that various forms of bath tubs are commonly in use, and any suitable means may be employed for mounting the device upon the tub, said means being adapted to the particular formation of tub on which the device is to be mounted. Thus, it may be desired to weld the lower ends of the standards directly to the tub, or to bolt them respectively to the wall and to the floor, depending on the construction of the tub. In the drawing, the means illustrated for mounting the device are, as will be readily recognized, shown simply as an example of one method, and I do not desire to limit myself to this particular method of mounting.

- The device shown may be mounted at any point longitudinally of the bath tub B, although in most cases it would be preferred, as illustrated, that it be disposed substantially centrally of the tub, between the ends of the tub. In this position, it is probably most readily accessible to the user. Importance is, however, attached to the fact that the device embodies the use of gripping members H, disposed at spaced intervals throughout the length of the device, on both sides of the bath tub B, and, at the top, extending across the bath tub. It will be well recognized that when a person begins to slip, it is necessary for the purpose of checking a fall, to provide a gripping means which will be spaced only a very short distance from either hand of the person regardless of the position of the person at the time he begins to slip. Thus, the person will be able to grip a support for the purpose of checking his fall almost instantaneously, and he may thus efiectively keep himself from falling and injuring himself. In my device, it is to be noted that such a means is effectively provided by use of the cross-members ll, one at least of which will be always within a close distance from the hand of the user, at all times.

It is to be further noted that by reason of the particular construction I have devised, the device in question may be readily formed from chromeplated tubing, and is of unusually simple construction, whereby the device is capable of manufacture with a minimum of expense and with only a very few manufacturing operations. It is to be further noted that not only are the crossmembers ll adapted to serve as grips, but also the respective opposed standards 1 and 8, and their bridging connecting portions 9 and II], are all capable additionally of serving as grips, as desired.

What is claimed is:

A safety device for bath tubs, comprising spaced parallel supports mounted upstandingly relative to a bath tub, each support embodying elongated vertical standards extended upwardly from opposed sides of the tub equal distances and an arched connecting portion connecting the upper ends of the standards and arranged symmetrically relative thereto, whereby to bridge the tub transversely, and-cross-members connecting the supports at intervals throughout their lengths and positioned to provide hand holds disposed above both sides of the tub and continuing across the tub at a substantial distance thereabove.

ALLEN E. JERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,147,348 Wadsworth July 20, 1915 1,376,247 Bishop Apr. 26, 1921 2,319,017 Tillman May 11, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 347,721 Great Britain Apr. 21, 1931 

